Kiln — corn-drying in Gortnahomna Beg

This corn-drying kiln was excavated in 2004 in advance of the construction of a housing development to the E of Castlemartyr village. The kiln comprised two circular pits, at the N and S, linked by a stone-lined flue (L 3m; Wth 0.4m; D 0.4m). The N pit (diam. 1.4m; D 0.45m), which was circular in plan, was stone-lined. The S pit (diam c. 1.2m; D 0.3m), which was subcircular in plan, was unlined. The sides of the S pit were oxidised. Both pits were filled with black charcoal-enriched soil with medium-sized limestone fragments. A lintel stone was situated at the mid-point of the flue. In situ burning was evident only to the S of the lintel. According to the excavator (Lane 2007a, 47), it is possible that this was a corn-drying kiln that was reused as a limekiln. (Lane 2007a, 47) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009